St Kilda have produced a timely turnaround to cruise past Carlton by 40 points in their round two AFL game at the Telstra Dome.

Although still short of their best, the Saints fought back from a 23-point deficit and shoddy start to boot 17 goals to eight after quarter-time, winning 19.11 (125) to 12.13 (85).

The margin came despite low contributions from key forwards Nick Riewoldt (two goals) and Justin Koschitzke (none), who were well held by their opponents.

Although the Saints could still conjure enough goal kickers, led by Fraser Gehrig and Stephen Milne (four each) and Xavier Clarke (three), their defence deserved much of the credit for the win.

Sam Fisher marshalled the backline superbly, Max Hudghton broke even with Brendan Fevola (two goals) and Jason Gram and Clarke set up countless attacks with their run and good kicking from half-back.

St Kilda's impressive shutdown on Carlton came after they conceded just six goals in the narrow win over Sydney last week.

St Kilda have now beaten Carlton 10 games in succession, a streak dating back to 2002.

Carlton made a brilliant start to the game by booting the opening four goals and deserved a greater lead at the first break than 11 points.

But the Blues could not continue the sharp disposal and hard running of the opening term and the Saints gradually took control once Carlton's skill level dropped away.

The Saints led by 13 points at halftime and effectively ended the contest in the third term, kicking the only four goals.

With the sting out of the game in the final quarter the Saints booted seven goals to six in an otherwise meaningless last term.

Riewoldt was shaded by Jarrad Waite for most of the night but broke free in the last quarter to kick his two goals, but Koschitzke had his colours lowered by Bret Thornton, who did a great job following the withdrawal of Michael Jamison (hamstring tightness).

Gehrig did well in his first game of the season by kicking a goal in each quarter, while Milne was his usual zippy self and kicked all his majors after halftime.

Midfielder Luke Ball also did well for the Saints and teammate Leigh Fisher did a good job shutting down Carlton skipper Chris Judd.

Carlton's Marc Murphy was a livewire in the midfield early but faded, Cameron Cloke battled hard in the ruck throughout the game and Brad Fisher was the only other multiple goal-kicker with two.

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said his team produced an even, all-round performance, but had mixed emotions with the fluctuations in the game.

"Carlton really took it up to us all night, they've kicked six goals in the last (quarter) and four in the first," he said.

"We thought we were a little bit tardy at the start, we'd like a better start, but we really got to work and to kick 19 goals was really pleasing.

"Then I thought we were sloppy (conceding) three goals in the last two minutes, (which) really took a bit of gloss off, but credit to Carlton for persisting."

Key defender Matt Maguire and half-back Brendon Goddard will play in the VFL on Sunday and could return soon, but Lyon said St Kilda still had some improving to do.

"We still feel, regardless of what some media commentators are saying, that we've got a lot to prove and I think our start and our finish highlights we've got a long way to go," he said.

Carlton's Brett Ratten, who remains winless after eight games as coach, said his side's start was "outstanding", but the delivery of the ball into attack was not as quick or sharp afterwards.

"At the end of the day you need to kick the ball pretty well in this game otherwise teams counter attack pretty quickly and St Kilda have a mentality of pushing numbers back and covering the back 50 and they did it very well," he said.

"If you make a lot of skill errors by foot going into your front half and they counter attack through Sam Fisher and Gram you pay the price at the other end of the ground."

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